Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-16
OF THE RABBIT PEST.

Referring to the rumor that some eccen-
trio genius is en- route to California with
parcel of Australian rabbits, which he pro-
poses to turn loose IN the Sacramento val
lev, the San Francisco Bulletin regrets that
there is no statute for their destruction,
and suggests that some one take the re-
sponsibility of throwing the consignment
into the bay, and trust TO the community
to recornpense him for any damages he
may have to pay. The rabbit here or any
where else is a nuisance, and its destruc-
ton would scarcely give warrant for dam
ages. The bright individual who is said
to be bringing the sample pairs of the
Australian variety here is committing a
public nuisance, and has no right to iber-
ate the animals in California There is no
absolute need for any statutory provision
TO stop this bit of enterprise-nevertheless
the Legislature might enact law to make
the path to the desired end somewhat
shorter than that by way Of the common
law. 1t is not probable that the assembled
wisdom of the State would find in such 4
measure anything on which to base an is
Sue. or to call for a deal of deliberation.
The Australian is not probably more pro-
life than the California rabbit With the
species generally the bearing age is six
months, the period of CESSATION is about
three weeks and the litter is from five to
eight, with frequently double filters at an
interval of a few days That they have
proven greater nuisance in Australia
than here is due to the more favorable
conditions in that country. The Austria
liam rabbit is the common gray variety,
believed to have originated in Spain, and
carried thence to most parts OF the world.
If the Legislature declines to act in the
exclusion and suppression of the rabbit,
perhaps the plan an Australian bishop of
the Established Church a few years ago
might be tried. He had prayers offered
on given days, invoking the Almighty to
take the matter in hand by lengthening the
period of CESSATION for rabbits We have no
authentic record of the local success or
failure of this devout plan. We do know,
however, that the rabbit remains NUS
ance. and is to be classed with that other
and holder pest the sparrow. In this inn
mediate vicinity the rabbit pest is kept
somewhat under control by the rise Of
waters in the lowlands drowning him out
and destroying his burrows. Neyerthe-
less, the rabbit pest is, even in the
foothills, now serious menace to
all earth culture. In the drier
valleys of the San joaquin he is much
more annoying, and rabbit fences are there
very often costly necessity. We can
easily understand the alarm the rumored
introduction of the Australian rabbit
creates, notwithstanding the fact that it
does not differ essentially from the Amer
lean gray variety, for in the colony of Vic
toria, where this species of the hare family
was introduced in 1860, it has caused great
loss. Bruin Station, says Mr.. Morgan, in
1877 carried $4,000 sheep, but in 1879 the
"run" was abandoned, owing TO the increase
of rabbits. In 1886 the wool product of
the Malice country was 5000 bales. In
1882 it had declined TO 900 bales, solely
because of the destruction Of vegetation by
the rabbit, and finally the runs in eighteen
districts were abandoned. In the
Colac and Camperdown district, a
few years ago, preserving factory /.
was started, working six months in
each year, and purchasing in that
period from 100000 to 100000 rab-
bits, paying Is I'D per dozen. Victoria in
1855 exported no less than 100000 rab-
Bit skins. Here we have not advanced as
yet to the economy Of compromising our
selves much in destroying the pest, but if
it becomes as serious an i'll in California as
in Australia, it is not likely that we will
neglect TO make the rabbits pay in part
the expenses Of their own funerals. As to
the present threat from Australia, the San
Francisco authorities should quarantine
the ship long enough to seize the rabbits,
and if resistance he made scuttle the tub,
.,5 LET her sink